Five arrested during operations targeting organised crime in Hertfordshire
Gangs selling drugs, counterfeit goods and exploiting vulnerable people were targeted across the county
Five people have been arrested, during a two-week operation targeting organised criminal gangs.
Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Command, supported by the constabulary’s Operational Support Group and Force Intelligence Bureau, spent two weeks intensifying their investigations into organised criminal gangs (OCGs) operating in Hertfordshire.
Working closely with the local Neighbourhood Policing teams and Hertfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards, the operations targeted gangs selling drugs, counterfeit goods and exploiting vulnerable people across the county.
Eight addresses in Broxbourne, London Colney, South Oxhey, St Albans and Watford were raided between 13-24 October, with five people arrested and more than £25k in cash and 3,000 suspected illegal vapes, worth approximately £30k, being seized.
Those arrested were:
A 36-year-old man of no fixed address, arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply with intent to supply and profiting from or concealing knowledge of the proceeds of crime
A 24-year-old man of Greatham Road, Bushey, arrested on suspicion possession with intent to supply Class A
A 19-year-old man of Ashby Road, Watford, arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A
A 24-year-old of Marymead Drive, Stevenage, detained for immigration offences
A 35-year-old of The Willows, Stevenage detained for immigration offences.
Chief Inspector Martin Turpin, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Crime and Intelligence Team, said: “These operations were carried out as part of Operation Machinize, the ongoing National Crime Agency coordinated action to tackle money laundering and criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses. OCGs use businesses to launder money obtained through drug dealing and other illegal activities, often exploiting vulnerable people and selling low quality counterfeit goods.
“We have worked with our partners in Trading Standards and local government to target retailers involved in criminal activities, such as selling vapes to minors and counterfeit goods, dealing drugs, handling stolen goods and exploiting workers. This activity funds organised crime and violence, distributing harmful products and posing a risk to the young and vulnerable.”